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The first century disciplines were heavy persecuted by the Roman…

6 years ago • February 25, 2021 • by ourCOG

The first century disciplines were heavy persecuted by the Roman authorities. Why didn’t they fight back in self-defense? They could form a mighty Christian army ready to fight the Roman authorities but instead they gave themselves up to be ripped to shreds by tigers, lions and other wild beasts by the thousands. The children, old men and women were not spared either.

Why didn’t our first century brothers kill their Roman enemy in self defense? It would be legal today in America.

Would you think we should form Christian armies ready to defend ourselves from the government and other enemies? Would it be legit to do so say in Iraq or in a country where that authorities are hostile or violent against Christians? Time to get armed and fight?

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Discussion

51 comments

  1. Bobby Gonzalez says:
    May 15, 2020 at 4:27 pm

    They didn’t have the resources, and training the Roman army had. Rome had the greatest army in the world at that time.

    No, they would not have been wrong to fight back, but it would have been quite futile. But the Silver Lining is that despite the persecution, the church grew.

    Now if we were persecuted, we have more weapons and more people than our own army so we have the advantage.

    Reply
  2. James Moffett says:
    May 15, 2020 at 4:27 pm

    Let’s see, Esther makes it so the Israelites can defend themselves, the Israelites/Hebrews were instructed by God to go to war on multiple occasions, Jesus instructed those that don’t have a sword to buy one. I don’t know why they didn’t form an army in the 1st century but somehow I don’t see defending yourself through violence as against God’s principles. Are we to stand against Evil men or let them be?

    Reply
  3. Aaron B Lister says:
    May 15, 2020 at 4:27 pm

    No, I don’t think we should.

    Reply
  4. Kane Jackson says:
    May 15, 2020 at 4:28 pm

    To answer this question you must be a student of history. The Roman Army was one of the fiercest, disciplined, savage armies in human history. The Christians could have formed a armed resistance and been slaughtered like every other country the Romans took over. Rome had conquered what was considered all the known world at that time.

    Reply
  5. Nicholas Wallace says:
    May 15, 2020 at 4:28 pm

    Or even more “Form Christian armies to force other nations by murder and abuse into Christianity, while forcing them off their land and making others slave for them?”

    Reply
  6. Chrispine Lupupa Junior says:
    May 15, 2020 at 4:35 pm

    Some things we need to speak out and fight for them while other things we just need to leave them to God

    Reply
  7. Kelly Johnson says:
    May 15, 2020 at 4:36 pm

    Have you read the gospel?

    Reply
  8. Skarlet Pike says:
    May 15, 2020 at 4:37 pm

    First of all, Rome was very powerful, and no army could have defeated them until their own collapse. If the Christians attacked them in self-defense, it would only have kicked the hornet’s nest and led to more persecution.

    Secondly, America is different from Rome in that the Founding Father specifically decided to give citizens the right and the *responsibility* of keeping the government accountable to the Constitution and to the rightful role of government (to protect the God-given rights of their people, as representatives and not overlords).

    The job of a Roman citizen did NOT include that, but the job of a American citizen DOES. 🙂

    Reply
  9. Jeff W Strawther says:
    May 15, 2020 at 4:44 pm

    Perhaps they were following the example of Christ. He didn’t fight, He didn’t complain or protest.

    Reply
  10. Jacob Hoss says:
    May 15, 2020 at 4:52 pm

    Jesus could have unleashed the full might of the Heavenly Host at any time during his betrayal, trial, torture and crucifixion, but he didn’t. Martyrs from St Stephen on chose to follow his example, and that’s how a tiny and reviled Jewish sect came to be embraced by billions the world over.

    Reply
  11. Jakob Rice says:
    May 15, 2020 at 4:53 pm

    Go watch Hackshaw Ridge. I wonder more and more about this.

    When you study Christ, you see that He gave up many rights. The right to defend Himself was one thing that He gave up. He also instructed us to turn the other cheek, and to not live with anger and resentment in our hearts.

    The word Christian means “little Christ”. Now a days, people that don that name are more often fighting for their rights than giving them up. People have a right to watch this or that, people have a right to listen to what they want, people have a right to curse at one another…. the list goes on. These are all people that claim to follow God. Yet, when Jesus was on earth, He followed God over anything else, even to the point of death. He chastised the one person who defended Him right before He was put to death, and He himself could have called down the same angelic armies that Elijah witnessed and freed Himself, but He did not.

    I wonder, then, if it is Christ like to do anything other than say, “What you are doing is sin, but God wants to forgive you. Follow Jesus, and repent of your sins.”

    BUT, watch the movie… it will make you think. It’s the true story of a man who went to war and refused to take the life of another man out of obedience to God.

    https://www.amazon.com/Hacksaw-Ridge-Andrew-Garfield/dp/B01M3U7GJH/ref=nodl_

    Reply
  12. Gary Taylor says:
    May 15, 2020 at 4:53 pm

    So sad.
    Step 1: get armed and angry. Step 2: find an enemy to fight
    Step 3: think about Jesus’ example regarding fighting those who persecuted him.
    “…but I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

    Reply
  13. Hugo Garcia says:
    May 15, 2020 at 5:50 pm

    Jesús could have called legions of angles to his defense but chose to be crucified. Also, you wanted Christians to band together to fight the mightiest army of the times? Lastly, early Christians considered it an honor to suffer and die for Christ… 1PTR 4:1

    Reply
  14. Abraham Sherman says:
    May 15, 2020 at 6:02 pm

    One of the most successful social spheres for the spread of the Gospel was the Roman army. There were even majority-Christian legions by the time of Constantine. Christians in the Roman army often served with distinction until pagan idolatry was required of them, at which point they parted ways with the army.

    Generally, the call to (1) care for orphans and widows, and to (2) stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves, and (3) defend the innocent from evil aggressors, etc. means that Christians should be ready individually and nationally, to fight back or to go and enact justice when necessary.

    Reply
  15. Glenn Buchanan says:
    May 15, 2020 at 6:07 pm

    During the Dark Ages The Maccabees raised rebellions and raids against Roman rule.. but in spite of the empowering of the Holy Spirit there was a general belief that they believed Jesus’s teachings like The Sermon on the Mount which was basically law teaching.. they were for the most part to turn the other cheek and conform to these laws that Jesus taught, even though He alone fulfilled them.. simply put, I think their surrender to the Roman Authorities was a great error

    Reply
  16. Larry James says:
    May 15, 2020 at 6:08 pm

    Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
    Romans 12:19 ESV

    Reply
  17. Surah Weyer says:
    May 15, 2020 at 6:22 pm

    Jesus told us we would face persecution. Defending ourselves makes it no longer persecution but war. We do not wage war. The battle belongs to the Lord.

    Reply
  18. Jeremy Bickel says:
    May 15, 2020 at 6:26 pm

    This is a very interesting matter. On the one hand, we are to be meek and obey authorities. On the other hand, Jesus told them to take their swords and moneybags with them (after He sent them out without their swords or moneybags or sandals). In Luke 22:36, He told them to sell their cloak if they had to in order to BUY a sword! This is significant, however.. let each Christian decide – just like anything else – based on their softened and sincere conscience. Remember that Paul said he was convinced that nothing was in itself against God’s Law, but not everything is profitable. Surely, he meant spiritually profitable. What is your goal in life? I’d LOVE to die a martyr, as long as I didn’t set it up! But, that’s me.

    Reply
  19. Jay Zeke Malakai says:
    May 15, 2020 at 6:29 pm

    David is an excellent example. He fought Saul, yet even when God delivered him into his hands, he chose to take a piece of his clothing as proof. “I could have killed you. I didn’t.” I don’t think there’s anything necessarily wrong with resistance to injustice. A whole nation famously arose from it, so God at the very least CAN bless such. But the motives must ALWAYS be godly.

    Reply
  20. Justin Zra says:
    May 15, 2020 at 7:30 pm

    Do what is written, stop building your own kingdom.

    Reply
  21. Hildon Val Budtan says:
    May 15, 2020 at 7:34 pm

    Vengance is mine said the LORD.

    Reply
  22. Justin Werth says:
    May 15, 2020 at 7:38 pm

    We’re not called to be a Christian army. God care more about our holiness than our health and wellbeing.

    Any Christian insurrection would have been stamped out and the movement would have been labeled a bunch of rabble rousers and militant slaves. Instead the Christian’s blood watered the seeds of faith.

    Reply
  23. Sonya Blade says:
    May 15, 2020 at 7:39 pm

    Because Rome was an empire.. It would be no different than trying to come against our nation’s authorities..

    Reply
  24. Vicente Liansing Vicentino says:
    May 15, 2020 at 7:45 pm

    The only thing is necessarry for the triumph of evil is for a good man to do nothing….

    Reply
  25. Anthony Ajon Tan says:
    May 15, 2020 at 7:47 pm

    If you understand the bible specially the new testament , the early Church not the catholic or orthodox but the Church Jesus mentioned which are meek peaceful God loving and preach according to the doctrine of our Saviour.

    Reply
  26. Pranesh Patlurker says:
    May 15, 2020 at 8:19 pm

    They died…but earned the Crown of Life…

    Reply
  27. Joshua Andrade says:
    May 15, 2020 at 8:39 pm

    If christians form an army, what do you think other belief will do form their own army or be slain by us christians

    Reply
  28. Jave Lester Corro Odvina says:
    May 15, 2020 at 9:20 pm

    In the last days, true Christ followers will be diowned and persecuted by the society; spiritually, emotionally, and especially physically.

    Reply
  29. Dkis M Excel says:
    May 15, 2020 at 9:36 pm

    Vengeance is Mine, says the LORD.

    Reply
  30. Robert Jarvis says:
    May 15, 2020 at 9:45 pm

    You have your ” rights” mixed up,friend! As a resident of this world we have rights to defend ourself,sure, but doesn’t the Lord teach us to ” turn the other cheek,”? We belong to the kingdom of God now, and have a new master! Besides, why fight a losing cause? This world won’t last forever,why risk losing what we have in eternity, for something of this world? It surely isn’t worth it, friend

    Reply
  31. Budy Harianto says:
    May 15, 2020 at 11:03 pm

    Too many hollywood “rambo” movie…?..?

    Reply
  32. Ryan Gomez says:
    May 15, 2020 at 11:40 pm

    No, love and pray for those who persecute you/us

    Reply
  33. Chris Uzzi says:
    May 16, 2020 at 12:37 am

    There was certainly not a Christian “army” that could defeat the 1st Century Roman Empire. Thats silly, perhaps trollish.

    Reply
  34. William Clark says:
    May 16, 2020 at 12:50 am

    Wow, this is a complicated and very loaded question IMHO. Many times, a “violent” response doesn’t do the kingdom of God any good since while God DOES call for self-defense and even ordains it, He also calls for love and compassion and it can be extremely difficult to balance or discern which 1 applies under what circumstances. Believers did not respond to kill the Roman army because the mission they were sent for wasn’t to preserve the flesh so that they could carry out the gospel message, but to simply carry out the gospel message with love that was and is still foreign to many. We would NOT want to create armies to topple countries that are hostile to Christianity because we’d be making the same mistakes made during the Crusades, which was a serious abuse carried out in the name of God. We’re looking to spread God’s love, not initiate war with the rest of the middle eastern world that’s CONVINCED that we’re “infidels”. They don’t believe in evangelizing the rest of the world, only to kill the rest of the world who reject Allah. I’ve served with some devout Muslims in the military and I’ve fought against some radical Muslims in Iraq. The difference between the ones I served with in the military and the ones I fought against in Iraq is the condition of the heart in making the choice to be able and willing to cordially exist among people of other faiths.

    Reply
  35. Yee Lin says:
    May 16, 2020 at 12:53 am

    The martyrs in Heaven are to be consecreted to judge the unrighteous.

    Reply
  36. Michael Jenkins says:
    May 16, 2020 at 1:28 am

    Jesus said “My kingdom is not of this world, or else my children would fight”. He also said “blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you”.

    Reply
  37. Darius Öchsle says:
    May 16, 2020 at 3:19 am

    Where is the facepalm reaction under a post when you need it.

    Reply
  38. Gilbert J. Siscar says:
    May 16, 2020 at 3:46 am

    Vengeance is the Lord’s work

    Reply
  39. Dylan Flow Ang says:
    May 16, 2020 at 4:20 am

    sign me up! i’ll rather be conscripted into a christian military than national conscription into the army

    Reply
  40. Darren Clark says:
    May 16, 2020 at 4:35 am

    //They could form a mighty Christian army ready to fight the Roman authorities….//

    No, I do not think this proposition is plausible at all.

    Reply
  41. Colin Spotswood says:
    May 16, 2020 at 4:43 am

    Jesus led the life of a pacifist (turning a few tables over is not connected).

    Reply
  42. Eli Marshal says:
    May 16, 2020 at 5:59 am

    If the Christians fight back we’re no difference with Islam. Victory is not always in this world or seen by flesh but real reward is in heaven.

    Reply
  43. Craig Reynolds says:
    May 16, 2020 at 7:58 am

    Interesting thought, fighting against the strongest army in the world at that time. Today, we would like to fight back against the government taking our freedoms away. We are human. You don’t win people for the Lord but fighting. God battle belongs to Him and let’s read the ending, He and (We Christians) have won. Jesus could have fought back but did not to pay the prise for our sins.

    Reply
  44. Gamas Heet says:
    May 16, 2020 at 9:09 am

    Jesus got it. I’m good.

    Reply
  45. Randy Steinke says:
    May 16, 2020 at 9:28 am

    Self defense is not the same as retaliation. Defending others is not the same as retaliation.
    What is forbidden is taking vengeance into your own hands instead of the appropriate governing authorities appointed by God.

    Reply
  46. Fernandez Daniel says:
    May 16, 2020 at 10:18 am

    So to piggy back off the OP what do you all think about Christians carrying weapons for the purpose of defense and situation like the guy who stopped that church shooting in texas?

    Reply
  47. Franks Biblestudy says:
    May 16, 2020 at 4:25 pm

    After the second temple was destroyed/Masada, the Jews were in exile, through the OT narrative, God allowed foreign powers to rise and capture and dominate a disobedient Israel, this is no different, christianity was born in this era, so some of the fallout of a disobedient Israel was also in contrast to Christian freedom of a heavenly kingdom and we are the temple as the Temple was destroyed by the Romans, all in the plan of God so all look to Jesus Christ as the perfect sacrifice

    Reply
  48. Spike Harvey says:
    May 17, 2020 at 4:14 am

    the number of deaths by such persicutions is exagerated rightous people are protected by god they often suffer but seldom die

    Reply
  49. Chidi Obinna Ifeanyi says:
    May 17, 2020 at 8:25 pm

    They stood their ground and paid the ultimate sacrifice with their blood.

    Reply
  50. Emanuel Mullen says:
    May 20, 2020 at 11:29 am

    As in the days of the Roman empire its armies was the most powerful and unmatched anywhere in the world. And to have small group unarmed, unskilled Christians to go up against these well armed forces it would be annihilation. Plus God tells us that, “Vengeance is Mine!’ Though we may want to avenge ourselves, we must leave that to God. Refusing to take revenge avoid grudges and feuds. God promise us that His just vengeance will be given.

    Reply
  51. The first century disciplines were heavy persecuted by the Roman… #ourCOG – ourcog says:
    February 25, 2021 at 2:00 pm

    […] The first century disciplines were heavy persecuted by the Roman… […]

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